Curious what everyone's thoughts are on playing more than one character in a campaign. My wife is currently setting up a campaign that she'll DM for me and 2 others. We know 3 characters is do-able in a campaign, but it'd be the least we'd ever played with, so we discussed each of the 3 players playing as 2 different characters, for a total of 6. It's something I've never done before, but I've really enjoyed the challenge of brainstorming 2 characters, being able to weave their backstories together in a way that I've never been able to before. I've got my 2 characters ready to go, but now with the start of the campaign imminent, the other 2 are growing increasingly hesitant to roll with 2 characters. What are your all's thoughts? Are there gameplay challenges?
Two is a completely doable number, especially with how easy keeping track is with this compared to multiple character sheets. The real challenge is going to be that the characters run by the same person will interact a weird level of almost nothing with each other
Interaction between the characters in the party will be less awkward if it is made a rule at the table that the players refer to their PCs in the third person rather than first person, even when speaking.
My husband, my daughter, and my son have each done this at various times for games when we haven't felt like the party was large enough with 1 PC per player. It can work o.k., but it does have its drawbacks. My daughter has said in particular that she often identifies more strongly with one character than the other, and finds it challenging to run two. She has run 2 characters at a time in two different campaigns, and I think that is more an issue with one of the campaigns than the other. We started with LMOP, and she ran two of the pregens. One she took to immediately, the other one has always felt flat to her. In the other campaign, she created both characters from scratch, and I think that's been a bit easier for her to relate to both.
I would say there's no reason not to give it a try if you think it sounds interesting.
Sure, I've played in a game where we've done this before.
In fact it was something of an in-joke to try to engineer situations that would involve someone having to roleplay a conversation between their two characters. :)
Yeah, I could see it being hard with pre-gen characters. I feel like with investment in the character creation process, with intertwined backstories...
It's to the point now that if the group as a whole does decide to ditch the concept and roll with 1 character, I'll more than likely come up with a third character. The idea of splitting up my 2 doesn't really sound appealing, just from a story standpoint. Thanks for sharing your experiences!
Would it make the situation easier if each played a primary character plus a sort of henchman/bodyguard/assistant to that character (not a lower level character, just subservient for story reasons)? Within the party all interactions could just be between the primary characters, but a secondary character could be used to interact NPCs if they happened to be the most charismatic PC or such: "My master and their associates sent me to speak to you..."
Would it make the situation easier if each played a primary character plus a sort of henchman/bodyguard/assistant to that character (not a lower level character, just subservient for story reasons)?
When we first started talking about it, this was an idea that came up, each having a main/master and a companion/apprentice to accompany us mostly for battle. As it stands now, one player is going to start with 2 characters, and will more than likely leave one behind at some point, only bringing the other along occasionally, and the other player just wants to RP as a recurring merchant for his 2nd character. We'll see how it all works out. More than anything, I was just surprised by the reluctance to try rolling with 2 full fledged characters (a concept I had never tried before or even given any thought to, but was intrigued by once given the option).
Playing two characters is completely doable, I've played in games where that was even the norm. One thing you might do is suggest that if the others don't feel comfortable with the idea that they may want sidekicks instead as they are easier.
Playing multiple characters is quite doable. I’ve played 2 many times and even 3 occasionally when needed. The challenge is playing them when they don’t know each other but have overlapping abilities. Then you should be “stepping on each others toes somewhat regularly. Ones that know each other fairly well are easier as they are generally precoordinated in y or head.
We always had NPC characters when we played 1E in the 80’s. they technically were not one player playing two characters. We just rolled up an additional character or two to fill out the group. we took turns who controlled the NPC’s. So similar and definitely doable.
The DM also had a PC, but one if us players controlled them usually, unless we tried to do something stupid like triggering an obvious dangerous trap they might step in and say they wouldn’t do that. I know DM PC’s is usually a no-no, but it worked the way we played it. Well worked as well as a bunch of immature early teens could make it work :)
Edit: we also controlled any PC’s if they player couldn’t make it to a session. It’s how one of my characters ended up with the enmity of a devil from a Deck of Many Things in my absence, lol.
I've had a player playing 2 characters in my very first campaign. I did not like it. They loved it, but from the DM perspective, it was awkward.
The players have difficulties feeling attached to their specific character, and they also tend to min-max both for synergies, which I am not against, but at the same time, it's no fun for me if the players choose things only for the purpose of power instead of character development.
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I've done this at times. It's possible to run two sheets - it is not possible to roleplay two characters.
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Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
It's harder, and I wouldn't really recommend it for most players, but DMs role-play multiple characters all the time.
That's ... technically true. As a GM, I 'roleplay' the village blacksmith, and the tavernkeeper, and the guard captain, and the wise old man by the roadside, and the villains, and so on.
But really, I don't. They're wafer thin, consisting - at most - of some background, some stats, an idea of what they can do to help the party, and an accent. They're not even as good as a new character fresh from the printer. They're nothing more than a cardboard mask pulled over their stats and in-game function. Frankly, it's not the same.
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Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
Completely agree with Acromos. I'm a DM and I've also played two PCs at once - the experiences are very different.
Even if you aren't into "heavy RP" and you don't care about your character's personal growth, insecurities, or backstory, being in a PC's head requires more depth and attention than being in an NPC's by virtue of the fact that an NPC is essentially a piece of scenery you can talk to, while a PC is the one driving the action. The consequences of a PC's choices, and therefore the way they interact with the environment, has much more weight.
When you have two PCs, who as Acromos pointed out are typically more complex, it makes it hard to give equal weight to both of their motives and decision-making unless they are in lockstep. And if you are someone who loves inhabiting a character's fears/desires/dreams, it's very hard to roleplay more than one at a time without turning the other basically into an NPC.
Is it impossible? Not at all, especially if heavy RP isn't really your thing. It can be a little challenging to have them both very active in the same scene, though. Heck, even DMs can struggle having multiple NPCs in a scene. Supplying both sides of a conversation isn't always easy, even if it's shallow.
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Curious what everyone's thoughts are on playing more than one character in a campaign. My wife is currently setting up a campaign that she'll DM for me and 2 others. We know 3 characters is do-able in a campaign, but it'd be the least we'd ever played with, so we discussed each of the 3 players playing as 2 different characters, for a total of 6. It's something I've never done before, but I've really enjoyed the challenge of brainstorming 2 characters, being able to weave their backstories together in a way that I've never been able to before. I've got my 2 characters ready to go, but now with the start of the campaign imminent, the other 2 are growing increasingly hesitant to roll with 2 characters. What are your all's thoughts? Are there gameplay challenges?
Two is a completely doable number, especially with how easy keeping track is with this compared to multiple character sheets. The real challenge is going to be that the characters run by the same person will interact a weird level of almost nothing with each other
Interaction between the characters in the party will be less awkward if it is made a rule at the table that the players refer to their PCs in the third person rather than first person, even when speaking.
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I think forming a strong attachment to your characters would be more difficult. That whole "you can't serve two masters" thing.
My husband, my daughter, and my son have each done this at various times for games when we haven't felt like the party was large enough with 1 PC per player. It can work o.k., but it does have its drawbacks. My daughter has said in particular that she often identifies more strongly with one character than the other, and finds it challenging to run two. She has run 2 characters at a time in two different campaigns, and I think that is more an issue with one of the campaigns than the other. We started with LMOP, and she ran two of the pregens. One she took to immediately, the other one has always felt flat to her. In the other campaign, she created both characters from scratch, and I think that's been a bit easier for her to relate to both.
I would say there's no reason not to give it a try if you think it sounds interesting.
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D&D Beyond FoundersSure, I've played in a game where we've done this before.
In fact it was something of an in-joke to try to engineer situations that would involve someone having to roleplay a conversation between their two characters. :)
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Yeah, I could see it being hard with pre-gen characters. I feel like with investment in the character creation process, with intertwined backstories...
It's to the point now that if the group as a whole does decide to ditch the concept and roll with 1 character, I'll more than likely come up with a third character. The idea of splitting up my 2 doesn't really sound appealing, just from a story standpoint. Thanks for sharing your experiences!
Would it make the situation easier if each played a primary character plus a sort of henchman/bodyguard/assistant to that character (not a lower level character, just subservient for story reasons)? Within the party all interactions could just be between the primary characters, but a secondary character could be used to interact NPCs if they happened to be the most charismatic PC or such: "My master and their associates sent me to speak to you..."
Multiple characters would be harder to keep track of but it would be doable.
I would give them each an NPC to control. They could be hired help.
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Playing two characters is completely doable, I've played in games where that was even the norm. One thing you might do is suggest that if the others don't feel comfortable with the idea that they may want sidekicks instead as they are easier.
I think it’s more than doable. When I played 5e solo using the Mythic GM Emulator I ran a party of four by myself.
Playing multiple characters is quite doable. I’ve played 2 many times and even 3 occasionally when needed. The challenge is playing them when they don’t know each other but have overlapping abilities. Then you should be “stepping on each others toes somewhat regularly. Ones that know each other fairly well are easier as they are generally precoordinated in y or head.
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We always had NPC characters when we played 1E in the 80’s. they technically were not one player playing two characters. We just rolled up an additional character or two to fill out the group. we took turns who controlled the NPC’s. So similar and definitely doable.
The DM also had a PC, but one if us players controlled them usually, unless we tried to do something stupid like triggering an obvious dangerous trap they might step in and say they wouldn’t do that. I know DM PC’s is usually a no-no, but it worked the way we played it. Well worked as well as a bunch of immature early teens could make it work :)
Edit: we also controlled any PC’s if they player couldn’t make it to a session. It’s how one of my characters ended up with the enmity of a devil from a Deck of Many Things in my absence, lol.
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I've had a player playing 2 characters in my very first campaign. I did not like it. They loved it, but from the DM perspective, it was awkward.
The players have difficulties feeling attached to their specific character, and they also tend to min-max both for synergies, which I am not against, but at the same time, it's no fun for me if the players choose things only for the purpose of power instead of character development.
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I've done this at times. It's possible to run two sheets - it is not possible to roleplay two characters.
Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
It's harder, and I wouldn't really recommend it for most players, but DMs role-play multiple characters all the time.
That's ... technically true. As a GM, I 'roleplay' the village blacksmith, and the tavernkeeper, and the guard captain, and the wise old man by the roadside, and the villains, and so on.
But really, I don't. They're wafer thin, consisting - at most - of some background, some stats, an idea of what they can do to help the party, and an accent. They're not even as good as a new character fresh from the printer. They're nothing more than a cardboard mask pulled over their stats and in-game function. Frankly, it's not the same.
Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
Completely agree with Acromos. I'm a DM and I've also played two PCs at once - the experiences are very different.
Even if you aren't into "heavy RP" and you don't care about your character's personal growth, insecurities, or backstory, being in a PC's head requires more depth and attention than being in an NPC's by virtue of the fact that an NPC is essentially a piece of scenery you can talk to, while a PC is the one driving the action. The consequences of a PC's choices, and therefore the way they interact with the environment, has much more weight.
When you have two PCs, who as Acromos pointed out are typically more complex, it makes it hard to give equal weight to both of their motives and decision-making unless they are in lockstep. And if you are someone who loves inhabiting a character's fears/desires/dreams, it's very hard to roleplay more than one at a time without turning the other basically into an NPC.
Is it impossible? Not at all, especially if heavy RP isn't really your thing. It can be a little challenging to have them both very active in the same scene, though. Heck, even DMs can struggle having multiple NPCs in a scene. Supplying both sides of a conversation isn't always easy, even if it's shallow.